Drying apparatus



Dec. 3l, 1929. B. DEWEY ET AL DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 3l, 1929-v B. DEWEY ET A1.

. DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet wlmi.. Il

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DeC- 31 1929 B. DEWEY ET Al. 1,741,981

DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 22, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT ol-Flcs BRADLEY DEWEY, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND 'raam L. manmmno, or carcasa, ILLINOIS DRYING APPARATUS Application led January 22, 1926. Serial No. 82,983.

This invention pertains to apparatus for drying plate-like or annular objects, for extion, or to facilitate vulcanization.

Principal objects of the presentinvention are to provide apparatus which without adjustment is capable of handling plate-like objects, for example disks or rings, varying through a substantial range of thickness, diametral size or contour; to provide apparatus for drying such objects while the latter are supported upon edge in substantially vertical position and in spaced relation; to provide apparatus of simple type having a minimum number of parts and capable of drying fluids distributed over such plate-like bodies rapidly an uniformly and to which the bodies may be fed automatically if desired bythe use of known devices and which will discharge the dried bodies automatically; tojprovide apparatus which will automatically separate adhering bodies from those which are normally separate and which will eject such adhering bodies from the machine at a point different from that at which the properly separate `and dried bodies are delivered; to embody the invention in a unit structure which may be readily multiplied to increase the capacity of the apparatus as a whole without a proportionate increase in the amount of the drying medium supplied; to provide apparatus in which the drying medium, 'if such be employed, is conserved and used in an economical manner;

and to prevent the spreading of oil from.

bearings of moving parts onto the coated bodies. l

In the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated by way of example together with certain desirable modifications, and in lsuch drawings Fig. l is a side elevation with certain parts ortions ofV broken away showing the vcomplete apparatus but omitting the feed devices;

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 but on a larger scale and illustrating a plurality of' platelike clrcular bodies passing through'the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the delivery end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a section on the'line-- of Fig. 1;,

Fig. 5 is a similar section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. k1, and showing a porvtion of a feed device; f

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section on a large scale showing details of construction of a roller bearingrforming an element of the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to that ofFig. 4 but illustrating a modification in which certain parts disclosed in Fig. 4 are duplicated;

, Fig. 9 is a fragmentary-plan view;

Fig, l0 is a corresponding fragmentary end elevatlon illustrating a further modification in which a (plurality of parallel conveyors arel employe Fig. 11 illustrates a further modification, the `parts being in vertical section;

Fig. 12 isf a fragmentary vertical section, moreor less diagrammatic, illustrating a further modification particularly adapted for handling plate-like bodies of a generally rectangular contour;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to F ig` 12 illus-.

trating another modification;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the drive shaft for the conveyor of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic vertical section illustrating apparatus embodying a combination of the devices shown in ]i`igs'. 8, 9 and 10, and

Figs. 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating further' modifications.

In drying plate-like bodies of circular contour, for example can ends of the usual type, apparatus such as disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 is preferred, since this preferred mechanism yside members 3 and 4 of the frame.

provides for a slow rotation of the circular or disk-like member about its `own axis as the drying operation proceeds, such rotation tending to facilitate a uniform distribution of the coating material around the entire circumference of the disk and a uniform access of the dr ing medium to the material to be dried. owever, in dealing with plate-like bodies of non-circular contour, arrangements such as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 are permissible, since, if the coating material be of proper consistency and composition, little if any iiow of the coating material occurs during the drying process.

Referring now -more particularly to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, the frame comprises spaced supports, for example the supports 1 and 2, which carry the side frame members 3 and 4 which, as here illustrated, consist of channel bars with their flanges turned outwardly. While such bars are convenient and desirable for the pur ose, it is obvious that the side members o the frame may be constructed in other ways without departing from the invention.

The side members 3 and 4 are connected at their o poste ends by members 5 and 6 respective y, which space the side members properly and hold them in assembled relation.

The end member 6 is rovided with openings for the reception ofp journal bearings in which parallel shafts 7, 8 and 9 (Fig. 6) may turn. These shafts project outwardly beyond the member 6 and at its outer end the shaft 7 is furnished with a spur gear 10 and with a bevel gear 11, the latter meshing with a gear 12 mounted on a transverse shaft 12a turning in bearings 13 and 14 attached to the The shaft 12a carries fast and loose pulleys 15 and 16 respectively, adapted to receive a belt driven from any suitable source of power.

The shafts 8 and 9 are provided respectively with gears 17 and 18, the gear 17 meshing with the gear 10 and also with the gear 18, the arrangement being such that the shafts 7 and 9 turn in the same direction while shaft 8 turns in the opposite direction. The axis of the shaft 8 lies in a horizontal plane above that in which the axes of the shafts 7 and 9 are disposed, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The shaft 7 extends lengthwise of the drying chamber defined by the `side members 3 and 4 of the frame and is journalled at its other end in a suitable bearing in the end member 5. At this end the shaft 7 is furnished with a pinion 19 of the`l same diameter as the gear 10 which meshes with a gear 20 of the same diameter as the gear-17 and which is mounted upon a short shaft 21 turning in suitable bearings in the end member 5.

The shaft 8 is furnished with a sleeve 8a (Fig. 14) at its inner end, such sleeve being bers 34, -t

mural splined or otherwise secured to the shaft 8, and this sleeve is furnished with a helical groove 23 in its peripheral surface for the reception of the end of a helical spring con. veyor 22. The end of thisconveyor 22 is threaded into the groove in the sleeve 8'* and it is then permanently secured to the sleeve by the use of solder, brazing or other suita le means. This helical coil conveyor extends lengthwise of the apparatus parallel to the shafts 7 and 9 and at its opposite end is secured to the shaft 21, the latter preferably having a sleeve similar to the Sleeve 8'* to which the spring is attached. If desired, one or both of the 'sleeves 8a may be movable axially of its shaft to compensate for the expansion or contraction of the spring conve or.

he shaft 9 also extends lengthwise of the apparatus but terminates at a point spaced a short distance from the inner face of the end member 5. The shafts 7 and 9 are parallel to each other and as above noted preferably have their axes disposed somes what below the axis of the shaft 8 and of the coil spring conveyor. Throughout its intermediate portion the conveyor rests upon and is supported by the shafts 7 and 9.

To support the shafts 7 and 9 intermediate their ends, bearings 24 and 25 are arranged at intervals lengthwise of the apparatus. These bearings 24 and 25 are preferably of roller type disposed in pairs and preferably the inner bearing of each pair is below the outer bearing so that the outer bearing constitutes an abutment to prevent the shaft which it supports from springing laterally outward.

The bearings 24 and 25 are conveniently mounted upon brackets 26 supported upon web members 27 connecting the side members 3 and 4 of the frame. These web mehr bers with their bearings may be disposed at any desired interval apart to provide the necessary support for the shafts and the conveyor carried thereb Referring to-Fig. 7, a preferred construction of bearing roll is illustrated in which the roll-supporting shaft 28 is fixedly secured at itsopposite ends to lugs 26 and 26", forming parts of the supporting bracket 26.

Upon this shaft 28 spaced rings 29 and 3() are secured. Each of these rings forms the inner member of a ball bearing and is peripherally grooved for the reception of balls 31. These balls also engage internal grooves in a ring member 32 forming the outer element of the ball bearing. Each ring member 32 is ixedly secured within the tubular roll 33 constituting the shaft bearing.` The ends of the tubular roll 33 are preferably crimped in over end closure meme latter having a close running fit on the shaft 28. The interior of the bearing roll may be supplied with lubricant of suit- 1. tween ad acent spires of the conveyor and able consistency and since the end members there is little .dan er that the lubricating medium will sprea outwardly onto the outer surface of the bearing roll and thus be applied to the' articles being dried. l

The coils of the helical conveyor are spaced apart a suitable distance to permit the ready entry of the disk-like bodies which are to be dried, such bodies standing on edge beresting w1th their peripheral edges upon the shafts 7 and 9, or upon one shaft and the inner surface of a spire of the helical conveyor. The bodies 35 are thus sup orted in substantially vertical planes and y rotation of the conveyor are caused toy move in a direction substantially perpendicular to their planes from one end of the apparatus to the other.

lt sometimes happensthat two such bodies may accidentally be stuck together when they are fed to the apparatus and that two such adherin bodies may enter between adjacent spires ot the conveyor coil. To prevent such adhering bodies trom being delivered with "the properly separate bodies after the drying operation has been completed, it is prestarred to provide the conveyor at one or more points, for example at the point 36 in Fig. 2 with a section in which the adjacent spires are spaced a art a distance substantially equal to the t iclmess of a single one oit' the bodies to be dried. lf two or more adhering bodies are disposed in the space between adjacent spires of the conveyor, when they reach the closely coiled portion ot the conveyor, they will be ejected laterally therefrom, since the gradually approaching coils squeeze the two-ply plate outwardly from between them. 'lo permit such ejected adhering bodies to escape at this oint one or more of the side walls 3 or 4 may e furnished with an opening 87 through which the adhering bodies may be delivered.

The separate bodies which are freely receivable between the coils at the point 36 continue along the conveyor until they reach a point near the e'nd member 5. As above stated, the shaft 9 terminates just short of this end member 45 so that when the dried 'body reaches this point it is no longer supported at one side and drops freely down through the bottom of the apparatus and is received in a suitable box or other container indicated at 38.

roll or slidedown between adjacent spires of the conveyor coil.

While it may not be necessary to provide any specific drying medium other than air at atmospheric temperature we prefer to proyide heating means for heating the air with- 1n the chamber defined by the side walls 3 and .For this purpose one or more lengths of p1pe 40, 40l and 4la maybe arranged between the members 3 and 4 in a plane below the conveyor coil, such pipes being perforated to provi burner jets and being connected wlth a supply pipe 43a through which suitable gas or other fuel may be delivered. 4

To conserve the heat from the burners, it is preferred to provide a cover plate 41 resting upon the upper edges of the side walls 3 and 4 or preferably upon retaining brachets 42 and 43 mounted upon said side walls. rlhis plate may be a simple sheet of suitable material, for example asbestos board or the like, although if desired it may consist of a hollow casing as indicated in Fig., 8, filled with asbestos fiber, magnesium, or the like indicated at 44 in said ligure.

As a further means for conserving the heat applied and using it economically, while at the same time savino' door space, it is contemplated that as illustrated in Fig. 8 the side walls 47 and 48 of the apparatus may be of greater vertical depth than as shown in Fig. 8 so as to accommodate between them a plurality `of superposed conveyor coils 45 and 46 mounted upon suitable bearing supports 49 and 50. rllhese bearing supports carry shafts or equivalent guide members corresponding to the shafts 7 and 9 above described. ln this arrangement the heating jets 5l are disposed below the lowermost oi the conveyor coils and the heated air will then rise through the several superposed conveyor units, thus acting successively to dry the covers or other bodies, while they are being moved. ln this type of apparatus, or in the previously described type, the channels in the members 47 and 48 may be closed by means of cover elements 52 and 53 respectively, and the space within said channels may be illed as indicated at 54 vwith asbestos liber., magnesium, or other suitable heat insulating material.

lt the apparatus be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 8 with a plurality of conveyor coils superposed, each conveyor may if desired be ot sufcient length to permit the completion of the drying operation while the plate-like bodies are traversing the length of the apparatus thus increasing the capacity oi the apparatus without increasing the floor space necessary for a single conveyor. On the other hand if desired the length oin the apparatus may be made substantially less than that necessary when a single conveyor is employed and the plate-like bodies after being partially dried while traversing the upper conveyor path may then be permitted to drop into the next lower conveyor and traversed in the reverse direction while the drying is comleted, as illustrated at the lethand side of Figs. 9 and 10 an alternative arrangement is illustrated for securing a saving in floor space. In this apparatus parallel conve or coils 55 and 56 are disposed side by si e, such coils preferably being of opposite itch but turning in the same direction.

hese coils may be provided with supporting guides such as the shafts 7 and 9 above described, or other suitable means such as hereinafter described, for supporting the platelike members as they are traversed from end to end of the apparatus.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10, it being assumed that the plate-like bodies are first fed to the coil 55, the latter is provided near its delivery end with an ejector pin 60 which connects adjacent spires of the coil. Closely adjacent to the plane of rotation of this pin 6() a transverse guide rail 61 is arran ed, such rail being supported by means o a bracket 62 which may be attached to the end member 5 of the frame. When a plate-like body propelled by the conveyor 55 in the direction of arroyv7 57 reaches a point such that it is engaged by the pin 60 in the revolution of the latter, it is forced laterally out of the conveyor 55 and while resting against the guide member 61*2L is pushed over between the spires of the conveyor coil 56. The latter coil immediately begins to propel it in an opposite direction as indicated by the arrows 58 in Fig. 9, and the dried body may beejected at the same end of the apparatus at which it was admitted. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many other devices might be employed to transfer bodies from one conveyor to a parallel conveyor.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figs. l to 7 the disk-like body which is to be dried is fed in through the chute 39 between the coils of the conveyor and its edges rest upon the spaced guide shafts 7 and 9. Since these guide shafts are positively driven and turn in the same direction they tend to impart a relatively slow movement to the disk-like body by engagement with its peripheral edges. At the same time the rotation of the spiral conveyor propels the disk-like body lengthwise of the apparatus.

Preferably the proportions of gears 10, 17 and 18 are such that the peripheral speeds of shafts 7 and 9 and helical spring 22 are substantially equal. The rotation of the shafts 7 and 9 substantially eliminates frictional wear between the conveyor coil and such shafts while the 'slow rotation of the disk-like bodies in traveling along the apparatus efectually revents the coating material from gathermg at one point.

While we prefer to employ the rotating shafts 7 and 9 for supportin the helical conveyor, it is contemplated t at under some circumstances these rotating supports may be dispensed with Such an arrangement is illustrated in F ig. 11, wherein a bearing support 6l of substantially U-shape in section carries anti-friction bearing elements 62 and 63 at the upper ends of its arms. Such elements, for example, may be of bearing bronze, Babbitt metal or any material suitable for the purpose. These bearings 62 and 63 support the helical coil conveyor H which may be of substantially the same type as the coil 22 above described. This coil is connected at one or both ends to suitable drivin means by which it is rotated for propelling the plate-like bodies B interposed between its spires. In this instance the plate-like bodies, being subjected to the lateral frictional thrust of the rotating conveyor, tend to move to on side of the conveyor axis. To prevent the bodies While being dried from escaping laterally from the conveyor a guide bar 66 is provided at a point somewhat above the bearing 63, such bar extending lengthwise of the conveyor and engaging the peripheral edge of the disk-like body as the latter moves from one end to the other of the apparatus.

The apparatus is adapted not only for drying disk-like bodies but also bodies of other contour, for example can bodies of rectangular or oval shape. Furthermore it is contemplated that it may not be desirable under some circumstances to have the body, wh ether o disk-like or other form, engage the rotating shafts 7 and 9 which support the conveyor. s shown in Fig. 12, although a pair of rotating shafts 64 and 65 similar to the shafts 7 and 9 is provided for supporting the conveyor helix 64, We provide independent o guide members 66a and 67 for supporting the body 68 to be dried. These guide members 66a and 67 may consist of substantially straight and parallel rods suitably supported in a plane above the upper portions of the shafts 64: and 65 and extending substantially from one end of the apparatus to the other. To prevent lateral movement of the body 68 while being dried we may also furnish guard rails 69 and 70 engageable with the side portions o the body during the travel of lthe latter.

In Fig. 13 a further modification is illustrated wherein although the shafts 71 and 72 corresponding to the shafts 7 and 9 above described directly support the helical coil 73, and wherein although the plate-like body K to be dried rests directly upon the shafts 71 and 72, we nevertheless provide guard rails 7 4 and 75 engaging the edges of the body to be dried to prevent any lateral movement of the latter.

In Fig. 15 a further possible modification is illustrated diagrammatically. In this iigure four conveyor coils are provided, such coils being indicated by the numerals 76, 77, 7 8 and7 9 respectively. The devices to be dried are fed to the coil 7 6 and traversed toward one end of the machine by this coil, are then transferred in the manner shown in Fig. 9 to the coil 77 and traversed inthe opposite direction, are then permitted to drop into engagement with the coil 78 and again move in the same vdirection that they were moved by the coil 76, and then are again transferred to the coil 79 and returned toward the feed end of the machine from which they are delivered.

It is clearly evident that by further multiplication of conveyor coils and proper transier from one to another the desired period of drying may be obtained without unduly increasing the horizontal dimensions of the apparatus, and it is evident that by slight modilications, such for example as those herein illustrated and described, the essential elements of the invention may be adapted for use in drying plate-like bodies of substantially any size or peripheral contour.

As is evident from consideration of Fig. Ll of the drawings, the apparatus may without substantial modification handle plate-like members of a very considerable range ot sizes, since, as above described, these bodies are supported merely at two points upon the v spaced shafts 7 and 9 and the conveyor coil Vaac is merely a propelling element which retains the bodies in upright position as they are moved. It is thus clear that the apparatus, without'any adjustment whatever, is capable of handling a large range of sizes of platelike or annular body so that no time is lost in adjustment in changing from one size to another, andit is unnecessary to employ skilled labor in operating the machine.

While heating means has been illustrated herein as one mode 'of accelerating the drying operation, it is contemplated that other means may be employed, such or example as by the delivery to said chamber of air from which moisture has previously been removed, or the admission thereto of chemical vapors or other media suitable for drying, oxidizing or vulcanizing the coating material which may be employed.

While the spiral conveyor has herein been shown as an open helical spring coil, it is not essential that this coil be resilient since a coil having rigid spires would be reasonably satisfactory for the purpose, nor is it essential that an open spiral be used since many of the desirable results above described might be secured by the use of a screw conveyor oit' some other type. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 17, one or both of the supporting shafts 7a and 9 might be provided with a s iral groove 83 of the' same pitch as the spira of the conveyor coil 84. Another modification might employ two or more spiral conveyors 80 and 81 in simultaneous engagement with the plateprising a substantially horizontal screw conveyor for propelling disks to be dried in an axial direction, and an elongate unthreaded support disposed at either side of and below the axis of the conveyor lor engagement with the peripheral edge of a disk while the latter is being propelled bythe conveyor.

5 2. Apparatus of the class described comprlsing a jscrew conveyor for propelling disks to be dried, a pair of elongate unthreaded rotary supporting members substantially parallel to the axis of the conveyor and adapted to engage the peripheral edge of a disk propelled by the conveyor, and means for concomitantly rotating the conveyor and supporting members.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a substantially horizontal screw conveyor for propelling disks to be dried, an unthreaded elongate supporting member at each side of and below the axis of the conveyor,

one at least of said supporting members being a rotary roll, said members being adapted to engage the peripheral edge of a disk propelled by the conveyor, and means for rotating'l the conveyor and said supporting roll or ro s.

4. Apparatus for conveying disklike bodies comprising a rotating helical spring having its spires spaced to receive between them the disks to be conveyed and to progress said disks bodily in an axial direction while rotating the disks, and an Unthreaded rotary guide element at each side ci the vertical plane of the axis of the spring, said guide elements being disposed in a horizontal plane above the plane tangent to the lowest point of the periphery of the spring.

5. Apparatus of the class described having means for propelling disk-like bodies axially in a predetermined path and for rotating them as they progress along said path, said means comprising a single rotating screw conveyor and an Unthreaded rotating support engageable with the edge' of the moving disk, said support being at a iixed and unvariable distance from the axis of the conveyor, the conveyor and support being so constituted and related as to permit them to handle disks of a substantial range oi siaes.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising spaced elongate supports substantially parallel to one another and in substantially the same horizontal plane, said supports being adapted to engage the peripheral 'dill lll() lid .ed es of (late-like bodies of different sizes an there y to support said bodies, and a helical spring conveyor having its axis disposed between said supports in aplane above the plane of said supports,l said conveyor being adapted to receive bodies of any of said sizes between its spires and to push them along said supports.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, an elongate helical spring conveyor extending longitudinally of the frame, spaced parallel rotary shafts extending lengthwise of the conveyor and supporting the latter between them, and means for rotating the conveyor.

8. Apparatus for conveying plate -like bodies comprising a rotary helical spring having its spires spaced to receive between them the bodies to be conveyed and to progress said bodies in a substantially axial d1- rection, spaced unthreaded elongate rotary bearings disposed respectively at either side of the spring supporting the latter between them, and means for rotating the spring.

9. Apparatus for conveying disk -l1ke bodies comprising a rotary helical spring having its spires spaced to receive between them the disks to be conveyed and to progress said disks bodily in an axial direction, a power driven rotatin shaft disposed at either side of the axis o the spring, the spring resting upon the shafts, and means for turning the spring.

10. Apparatus for conveying disk-like bodies comprising a rotary helical spring having its spires spaced to receive between them the disks to be conveyed and to progress said disks bodily in an axial direction, and an unt-hreaded rotary shaft disposed at eitherv side of the axis of the spring, said shafts constituting supports for the spring, and means for turning the shafts.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a single rotary screw conveyor for bodily propelling platesto be dried, .a plurality of substantially smooth supportingl surfaces extending substantially parallel to the axis of the conveyor and supporting the latter, said surfaces also engaging with the peripheral edge of a plate-like body while being propelled by the conveyor, and means for rotating the conveyor.

12. Apparatus for conveying disk -like bodies comprising a rotatinghelicalspring having its spires spaced to receive between them the disks to be conveyed and -to progress said disks bodily in a substantially axial direction, a rotating shaft disposed at either side of the spring, said shafts constituting supports for the spring, and means for turning the shafts and spring, both of said shafts turning in the same direction and the spring in theopposite direction.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising an elongate helical spring conveyor earings for the shafts, each bearing comprising at least one anti-friction element disposed at either side of the vertical axis of the res ective shaft.

14. pparatus of the class described comprising a substantially horizontal elongate conveyor helix having its spires spaced to receive between them disks to be conveyed, means for rotating the conveyor, a pair of spaced vparallel shafts supporting the conveyor between them, and supporting bearings for the shafts intermediate their ends, each bearing comprising a pair of anti-friction rolls disposed at each side of the vertical axis of the plane of the respective shaft, the plane of the axes of each pair of anti-friction rolls inclining downwardly toward the vertical plane of the conveyor axis.

15. Apparatus of the class described cornprising an elongate rotary helix having its spires spaced to receive between them disklike bodies to be propelled, a pair of rotary shafts parallel to and supporting the helix between them, and bearings supporting the shafts at s aced points, said bearings comprising pairs of ermanently sealed hollow rolls each containing a lubricating medium.

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a shaft, a journal bearing therefor, means for driving the shaft, a sleeve secured to one end of the shaft, said sleeve having a helical groove in its peripheral surface, a helical conveyor spring having one end portion seated in the groove in said sleeve, and means for rotatably supportingthe conveyor spring at a point spaced from said sleeve.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a substantially horizontal elongate conve or helix havin its spires spaced to receive etween them isks to be conveyed, a rotary shaft secured to each end of the conveyor, and means for positively and synchronously rotating said shafts.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising a substantially horizontal screw conveyor for propelling disks to be conveyed, an elongate rotary gulde substantially parallel to the axis of the conveyor disposed at either side of the vertical plane of the conveyor axis and engageable with the peripheral edge of a disk propelled by the conveyor, means for turning the conveyor in one direction, and means for turning both guide rolls in the opposite direction.

19. Apparatus of the class described comprising a substantially horizontal elongate conveyor helix havin its spires spaced to receive between them disks to be conveyed, a

llO

rotary shaft secured to each end of the conveyor, a rotary elongate unthreaded supporting shaft substantially parallel to the conveyor, gearing connecting the opposite ends of said supporting shaft to the respective conveyor shafts, and means for driving the supporting shaft. y

20. Apparatus of the class described com prising a pair of helical coil conveyors of op- 140 posite pitch, means for turning said conveyors in the same direction, means for delivering plate-like bodies to one of said conveyors to be propelled by the latter, and means associated with said latter conveyor for delivering such plate-likebodies to the other conveyor.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of screw conveyors, means for rotating said conveyors relatively to one an- 'other in such direction that their propelling action is in opposite directions, means for delivering plate-like bodies to one of said conveyors to be moved by the latter, and means associated with the delivery end of said conveyor for delivering such plate-like bodies to the other of said conveyors.

22. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of helical coil conveyors, said conveyors being substantially parallel and 3o spaced from one another, a support associated with each conveyor for engagement with the eripheral edge of a plate-like body disposed etWeen adjacentspires of the conveyor, and a stop member adjacent to the delivery end of one conveyor for terminating movement of a body by the latter conveyor and for transferring it to the other conveyor.

23. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of helical coil conveyors, said conveyors being substantially parallel and spaced from one another, a supportassociated with each conveyor for engagement with the peripheral edge of a plate-like body disposed etween adjacent spires of the conveyor,

means for delivering a plate-like body to one of said conveyors at a point near one end thereof, a transfer pin connecting two adjacent spires of said conveyor at a point near its otherend, and a guide extending transversely from-one conveyor to the other near the plane of movement of said pin for directing said plate-like body when laterally ejected from the first conveyor by the action of said pin into engagement with the other conveyor.

Signed by me atI Cambridge, Mass., this thirtleth day of December, 1925.

BRADLEY DEWEY. Signed b me at Chicago, Illinois, this eighteenth y of January, 1926.

T oMAs L. TALIAFERRO. 

